July 2019 Canadian Geese Bulletin

Waterford Lakes Homeowners Association

July 15, 2019 Bulletin

We will not have an HOA Meeting this month with all the special activities in July.  We would like to update you however on what the Board is discussing.

Treasurer’s Report (end of June):                  Checking:                               $19,026

                                                            Roofing Reserve Fund:        $82,752

                                                            CD:                                          $51,357

                                                            Profit/Loss:                            $3735

                                                            % of Budget Spent               35%

Solutions to the Canadian Geese Problem:

The Board had a special meeting Saturday, July 13th to discuss ways to reduce the goose problems.  Anne Inman will be chairing a committee of concerned residents and Board members to put a geese management plan together to implement by early Spring when the geese begin nesting.  We will be reaching out to other Avon Homeowner Association Presidents and the Town of Avon with our proposed plan.

Here are the facts.  Take time to look at a google map of the area around Waterford Lakes.  There are more than 30 retention ponds bordering our community.  Populations of Canada geese have dramatically increased over the past 25 years in urban areas where there are few predators and a dependable year-round supply of food and water.  They are particularly attracted to mowed lawns.  They graze on the grass and submerged aquatic vegetation.  They tend to nest behind our homes close to water where they are protected. They may return to nest at the same site in consecutive years. Adult pairs will stay together until one dies.  As you know, both parents will vigorously defend their goslings until they are able to fly.    Geese can live 10-24 years in the “wild”.  Geese molt once a year where worn, frayed and lost feathers are replaced with new ones.  This molting season is in June and July lasting about 45 days. None of the family can fly at this time hence the “herds” of geese migrating back and forth between our retention ponds and leaving 1-3 pounds of droppings per bird in their wake!  This is very unsanitary and unsightly. Geese in high concentrations are more likely to get diseases and parasites.  Goose droppings increase algae growth in our ponds.

Goose management costs significant money and is not a line item in our budget.  The Committee will be including a cost factor in their plan to be proposed to our membership in February, 2020.

Geese are very adaptable birds.  Consequently, our plan must be multi-faceted and something we ALL need to support, whether you live on a pond or not.  The first steps to remedy existing problems and preventing conflicts in our neighborhood are the following:

#1.       STOP Feeding the geese, ducks and birds in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  We understand if you would like to feed the birds in the Winter.  When their diets are no longer supplemented with handouts and they have to depend on the natural food supply, some may move on.  Effectively immediately, we are a NO FEED COMMUNITY.  Feeding attracts more geese to the area.  If our plan is to be successful in managing the population, we have to eliminate one of the causes.

#2.       We will discontinue mowing around the ponds this year as we consider a vegetation barrier.

The Geese Committee will be discussing the following elements for their proposed PLAN:

·      Continue changing the habitat

·      Plant Vegetation Barriers

·      Relocation/Euthanasia and permits

·      3ft. fences to impede migration

·      Multiple and changing harassment tactics

·      Noise-making devices

·      Chemical repellants

·      Lasers

·      Dogs

·      Permit to destroy eggs

·      Feeding

·      Public Health Concerns

·      Town-wide campaign

Contact Anne Inman at (317) 504-9268 if you would like to participate in the planning sessions. We will limit the committee to 8-9 residents.  We hope you will enthusiastically embrace the discussion and process of putting together a long-term plan.

Respectfully Submitted,

Anne Inman, Board Secretary 

June 2019 Board Minutes

Waterford Lakes HOA Board Meeting

June 20, 2019  Minutes

Attendance:       17 residents, 5 Board members, Susan Keen & Larry Edwards (PSG)

Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance

April Minutes Approved As Written

Treasurer’s Report:         Checking (May 31^st)                            $30,396

                                                      Roofing Reserve:                                 $71,128

First Merchants CD:                          $51,357

                                                      Year-to-date profit/loss:                                  +$14,443

                                                      % of budget thru May:                      28%

Committee Reports:

                  Social:                     Upcoming Calendar of Events

·       Saturday, July 6^th 6:30pm – 8:30pm  Block Party @ Clubhouse (Sponsored by Anne & Nancy. Details under new business)

·       Saturday, July 6^th  9:30am  Men’s Breakfast @ Emmy’s

·       Saturday, July 20^th Ladies Lunch @ Sal’s In Brownsburg (RSVP to Janell Miller)

·       Saturday, July 27^th  8:30am -10:30am Breakfast Gathering @ Clubhouse (flyer coming)

·       Saturday, August 3rd   9:30am Men’s Breakfast @ Emmy’s

·       Saturday, August 17^th  Ladies Lunch served by Amish Lady  RSVP to Janell (317-506-0758)

Landscaping & Architecture:

Sandavol Landscaping hopes to start trimming the shrubs next weekend weather permitting.  This may take more than one weekend to complete the project.  The shrubs in your front flower bed and around the utility boxes will be done.  If you are in need of additional shrubs trimmed on the side or back of your house, you can make arrangements and pay Mr. Sandavol personally (as several of our residents are doing).

·       Brandon Henton, an employee of PSG, also is available to hire for landscaping & interior projects. Call 317-625-6439 or 317-837-9860.

·       Just a reminder to fill out a Architecture & Landscaping Change Form for approval before making any exterior changes to your property, windows or doors.

Old Business:

·       Don Ulrey discussed the need for residents to seriously consider purchasing the Utility Shield insurance policy through Citizens Energy Group (888-544-4541).  This policy covers your water and sewer lines that run from the meter under your home.  We just had another home on Crystal Court with a water line break. Fortunately, the resident had the insurance.  Utility Shield costs $14.95/month.  Your HO6 Homeowner’s Policy does not cover these lines.  Policies offered by other utilities are not recommended based upon our experience.  Repairs to water/sewer lines have run $2,500 - $6,000 depending on extent of excavation.

New Business:

·       Maggie Jones said she was contacted by Frontier Internet for the purpose of notifying our residents that Frontier is now servicing this area.  You will need to contact Frontier directly for pricing information (frontierinternet.com).

·       Anne Inman & Nancy Fitzgerald are throwing a Community-wide Block Party Saturday, July 6^th 6:30pm to 8:30pm @ the clubhouse parking lot.  Your family members and friends are welcome to join the fun. We will have LIVE music & entertainment. Good Humor ice cream and drinks will be provided at no charge.  Please bring your lawn chairs if you have any.  You will need to park on the street.  We will be accepting donations to the WHY NOT TODAY non-profit that raise cows and chickens to serve the hungry in Hendrick’s County. John & Joy Shew’s daughter Jenny and son-in-law started the non-profit and devote a tremendous amount of their time & resources.  This Spring WHY NOT TODAY took out our dead shrubs at the north entrance & clubhouse and spread the mulch at the shade garden.  Everyone is invited!

Door Prize Drawing:        Winner Judy Bolin

Meeting Adjourned

Respectfully,

Anne Inman, Secretary

NEXT MEETING August 15^th @ 6:30pm

Due to the many social events in July there will be no meeting.

Waterford Lakes Homeowners Association Bulletin

Waterford Lakes Homeowners Association Bulletin      

June 26, 2019

Hardship Exception Policy for Rental Ban

With the approval of the Rental Ban Amendment, it is important to outline a Hardship Exception Policy and Procedure for the Association.  Pursuant to Article XIV, Section (n) of the Declaration for Waterford Lakes Homeowners Association, leasing/rental of units in the Waterford lakes Community is generally prohibited.  There is, however, an exception where the provisions of the declaration impose a hardship upon the owner.  In such case, the owner may petition the board of directors for a written waiver of the rental restriction as to that owner’s home based upon the hardship.  For the purpose of this section, hardship examples include:

(a)  A situation in which the owner has a prolonged illness or injury requiring the owner to live in a hospital, nursing home, or similar assisted living facility for an extended period of time, and preventing him or her from residing in his or her home in Waterford Lakes.

(b)  A military deployment to a location more than 100 miles from the Waterford Lakes community, which deployment will result in the absence of the owner for more than six (6) consecutive months.  The board may request written proof of deployment as a condition of granting a waiver.

(c)   A situation in which a member of the owner’s family is in need of physical assistance for an extended period of time (i.e. to recover from an illness or injury), and such family member lives more than 50 miles from the Waterford Lakes community. “Family member” shall be defined as an owner’s spouse, brother, sister, parent, stepparent, child, stepchild, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.

The board may, at its discretion, grant hardship waivers based upon other circumstances.  A homeowner’s choice to spend a portion of any calendar year residing in another location shall not, in itself, constitute a hardship. A petition for waiver will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.  A waiver granted in one instance shall not obligate the board to grant a waiver in a different, but similar instance. In the event the board grants a hardship waiver, it may impose conditions including restrictions on the term of the lease/rental permitted under such waivers. Upon expiration of the waiver, an owner must submit a new petition for waiver for any subsequent rental of the owner’s unit.  Repeated petitions for waiver by an owner may be considered as a basis for denial of such owner’s petition for waiver.